Travel chiefs predicted thousands of tourists would arrive during the first year of operations.

Belfast International Airport managing director Graham Keddie said: "Germany is one of the biggest outbound tourist markets in the world and for far too long we weren't able to attract visitors directly to Northern Ireland. At no cost to the taxpayer, Ryanair will deliver thousands of German tourists in its first full year of operation."

Ryanair will launch four new routes from Belfast International Airport in September followed by six more in October.